From 1776 to 2026: Daughters of the American Revolution invite community to America 250! Tea Party
December 19, 2025
America’s 250th birthday is just around the corner, and celebrations are already taking shape across the nation. As the country prepares to honor two and a half centuries of independence, local communities are joining together to mark this once-in-a-generation milestone.
The Issaqueena Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) invites the community to raise a cup to history at a festive America 250! Tea Party on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
“A January tea is the perfect way for the Issaqueena Chapter to open the America 250! commemoration. It reminds us that patriotism begins in fellowship, in shared stories and in honoring the legacy of all who shaped our nation,” said Karen Petit, vice regent of the Issaqueena Chapter, NSDAR. “We hope the public will share in this special moment as we kick off the America 250! celebration.”
Keynote Speaker
To help mark this historic anniversary, the Issaqueena Chapter welcomes Michael Burgess, a distinguished South Carolina historian and educator, as keynote speaker.
Burgess holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of South Carolina and has been a public high school history teacher in South Carolina for 30
years. Since 2013, he has taught at River Bluff High School’s Center for Law and Global Policy Development, a specialized program for Lexington County juniors and seniors. focused on leadership, law, politics, and global affairs.
At River Bluff, he also teaches AP U.S. History, where he helped expand the course from three to eight sections. Burgess’s ties to the American Revolution extend beyond the classroom. He is a direct descendant of Col. James Williams, a South Carolina militia commander killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain. A year later, on November 19, 1781, Williams’s two teenage sons were also killed in the Hayes Station Massacre in Laurens County. This personal connection deepens his lifelong dedication to preserving Revolutionary War history and aligns closely with the mission of the DAR during the America 250! commemoration.
His excellence in the classroom has earned Burgess both statewide and national recognition. He was named the 2023 South Carolina History Teacher of the Year by the
South Carolina State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (SCDAR) and was also selected as the 2023 South Carolina History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Foundation, a national organization dedicated to advancing history education.
Throughout his career, Burgess has witnessed the steady decline of history education as a priority in public schools. His presentation will explore this trend and highlight the vital importance of understanding America’s past—especially the events and sacrifices of the Revolutionary War—as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its
founding.
Tickets
Tickets are $30 per person and seating is limited. To reserve your seat, email [email protected] or call 803-477-1971 for payment details.
Proceeds will support Issaqueena Chapter programs that contribute to community enrichment, promote education, and help preserve local and national history for future
generations. To learn more about the chapter, visit www.issaqueena-dar.org/
About the DAR
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education. To learn more, visit www.dar.org.
